Drivers' License Suspension: A Thumbnail View

Posted By Bigger & Harman || 7-May-2014

Although there is only one way to obtain a California drivers' license,
there are a number of ways to lose it. The most common suspension tool is the
NOTS system. Generally speaking, if you have too many points on your license within
a certain amount of time, your drivers' license may be suspended.

A NOTS suspension not supposed to be a surprise: the state usually generates
warning letters long before the suspension hearing. But, there are some
other drivers' licenses suspensions that can occur suddenly and with little or no warning at all.

If you are caught
driving with a suspended license, that can lead to a longer suspension. In some instances, it can also
lead to jail time.
Driving without insurance can also instantly trigger license suspension. The law calls for a four-year
suspension, but you may be able to have your driving privileges reinstated
after one year if you provide proof of insurance and agree to three years'
driving probation.

There are also some
specific violations that trigger license suspension, such as failure to report an accident,
reckless driving, abandoning your vehicle on the highway and being at-fault
in a fatal accident.

Some licenses are suspended for
medical reasons. You may have a loss of consciousness while driving, or perhaps you are
a senior citizen whose physical skills may have allegedly diminished.
If you are found guilty of
vandalism, your license may be suspended for a year; if you are not old enough to
drive, you may not apply for a license for an extra year. There are also
administrative suspensions, most commonly failure to appear in court and failure to pay child support.

All of these suspensions have one thing in common: there must be notice
and hearing. An attorney practicing in Bakersfield can give you a much
better chance of keeping your license at such a hearing, or at least reducing
the penalty involved.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.